Fun and Safety in the Sun: UF organizes child safety day in Destin (PHOTOS)

Jacob Fuller, The Log

Tuesday

Sep 17, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 17, 2013 at 4:23 PM

In recognition of National Child Passenger Safety Week, the office of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Florida Walton County Extension organized an afternoon of safety education and fun for kids in the parking lot of Destiny Worship Center Sept. 16.

Representatives from several organizations and emergency services were on hand, including Freeport Fire Department, Walton County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management department, Florida Guardian Ad Litem and the University of Florida.

Ricki McWilliams, UF Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, said organizing the event was important to assure kids and parents alike understand proper passenger safety for children.

Organizers provided hands-on safety training, including instructions in proper bicycle helmet use, child car-seat checks and the kids even got to shoot the water from the fire truck's hose. Walton County Sheriff's Department Assistant Emergency Management Director Russell Beaty also helped kids and parents find what evacuation zone they live in, and educated them on what to do in case of an emergency evacuation.

For more information on evacuation zones and emergency preparedness in Walton County, contact Beaty at 850-892-8186 or rbeaty@waltonso.org. In Okaloosa County, you can reach the Director of Public Safety Dino Villani at 850-651-7150.

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